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Neymar was clearly emotional upon his return to action with Brazil on Wednesday -Credit:Michael Reaves, Getty Images
Brazilian FIFA World Cup icon Neymar was in tears in the locker room following his first appearance for the national team in more than two years against Scotland.
Neymar, 34, was an unexpected selection for Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man World Cup roster, with the Italian manager reportedly making a last-minute choice to include Brazil's figurehead for their North American tournament. Yet Neymar had to wait until the last group-stage match against Scotland to represent his nation once more, via The Mirror US.
Neymar was managing a persistent calf problem entering the competition after his season with boyhood side Santos in Brazil.
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The ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker finally stepped onto the pitch in the 76th minute, well after Brazil's triumph had been secured, with the South Americans leading 3-0 courtesy of a Vinicius Jr. double and a strike from Manchester United's Matheus Cunha.
When the final whistle sounded, Neymar's feelings were evident on the field. Neymar, regarded as one of his era's finest, was emotional, and it continued into the locker room afterward. "I was crying in the dressing room, yes. I thank God to be able to help my country, I am so happy," Neymar said.
He also acknowledged his anxiety. "My heart was racing, I was very nervous, but happy. Everything went well," he added.
Neymar aspires to play a significant role in Brazil's World Cup journey. However, he has acknowledged that he is no longer his nation's primary star: Vinicius Jr. is.
"Vinicius Jr. is our star at this World Cup. He's deciding games, he's doing great," Neymar said. Vinicius Jr. returned the compliment, hailing Neymar as an "idol" for the Brazil squad. "It's been magic to see Neymar back! He's our IDOL, for all of us," he said.
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Head coach Ancelotti described Neymar's return to the Brazil setup as "deserved" ahead of the knockout rounds, believing the veteran forward could still play a significant role for his nation.
"He had the opportunity to play. He deserved to play - he worked very hard to recover, with great seriousness and professionalism," Ancelotti said. "I think he can help the team in this World Cup. He played well in the few minutes he played.
"Neymar doesn't need motivation to play. No player here needs motivation to play wearing the Brazilian jersey. And it's the same with Neymar. He's 34 years old, he has the passion of a boy to play football. That's what he wants."
Brazil will likely face a stern test in the Round of 32.
As Group C winners, they will take on the Group F runner-up in Houston on Monday, with Japan currently holding that position. Should Japan advance as group winners, Brazil would instead meet either the Netherlands, who face Tunisia next, or Sweden. Japan has proven to be a formidable force over the past year, defeating Brazil 3-2 last October and stunning England 1-0 at Wembley in March.
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